What it's like to live in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a large city in North Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Winston-Salem deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Strong hospital ratings
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Winston-Salem compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Winston-Salem
Based on Winston-Salem's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,174
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,480 a year
- 47% of Winston-Salem renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,380
- Homes cost 3.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,087/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,087 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $233,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $233,800 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 126% above US
744 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3023/100k · Winston-Salem Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
4 hospitals
There are 4 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
59 public schools inside the boundary
There are 59 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (23 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Winston-Salem's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,087/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Winston-Salem →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Winston-Salem
All North Carolina guides →Moving to Clemmons →
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Rent $1,269/mo · Income $87,655
Compare with Winston-Salem →Moving to Lewisville →
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Compare with Winston-Salem →Moving to Kernersville →
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Compare with Winston-Salem →Moving to High Point →
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